20th anniversary at WAUW design
This year marks 20 years since I began my journey as an independent ceramicist and founded WAUW design. 20 years. It's actually a bit crazy to think about. 20 years with clay in my hands, countless firings, glazes, ideas, experiments – mistakes and successes.
When I look back, there are products that are still a part of my everyday life, while others have come along the way and quickly found a special place. One of the products that I have had with me for many years is my Raw Cappuccino Cup. The Cappuccino Cup was added to the Raw series around 2008, and I use it almost every day all year round for my morning coffee at home.
It means something to me when ceramics don't just sit on a shelf, but are actually used. Every day. That's exactly what I love about creating ceramics – that it becomes a part of people's everyday lives, and that it can last for a long, long time.
New favorites
Although some of the old favorites still persist, new ones are of course added all the time.
Right now, the Magma black unique dish is definitely among my newest favorites. The same goes for the large Tone dishes, which have a diameter of 40 cm. (see the Tone dish in Sky Blue here). They are fantastic for serving – for example, a large salad in the middle of the table – and I just think that a large dish can do something very special in itself. It is both applied art and functional ceramics at the same time.
The magma dishes are not online yet, but are available in the store.
20 years of experience
When I think about the biggest difference between then and now, one thing in particular stands out: experience. It gives me more peace and security – both personally and in my work with ceramics.
The first years as a trained ceramicist were largely about creating a business, developing, trying my hand at it and finding my own expression. It still is, but with 20 years of experience in my hands, there has been a different calmness about the process. I know more about what I want. And perhaps also more about when to trust my gut feeling.
Crystal – a glaze I will never finish
When I think back on the last 20 years and which products I have experienced the greatest demand for and curiosity about, it's probably The Crystal Vases. The crystals are special, and it seems that many are fascinated by them. Including myself. Over the past 20 years, I have continuously worked to refine both the glaze recipes and the expression itself, and I have, among other things, taken courses from some of the best masters in crystal glaze.
Crystal glaze is fascinating because you never quite know what will come out of the kiln. The crystals grow during firing, and I can influence their shape and size through temperature and holding times. But I can't control exactly where they will come from or how many will appear.
That's both the fun and the frustrating part. I can work with the glaze, adjust, experiment and try to control the process – but I can never control it completely. That's definitely part of the charm, and I tend to say that this type of glaze is a "difficult friend".
Glazes as a specialty
Glaze development is a profession in itself, and one that I am very keen to improve my skills in. It is important to me that I know my recipes and that I can play with the ingredients. It is fun, difficult, at times deeply frustrating – but also really rewarding. Working with the glazes has greatly helped to refine my ceramic expression over the years. My glazes are my own, and they are all created here in the workshop.
The simple is the most difficult
Something that may surprise you is that the most difficult products to develop are often the ones that look the simplest. These are the simple, straightforward and tight shapes, where there is nothing to hide behind. When the shape is completely simple, the proportions just have to be right. There should be nothing superfluous, and all the details become visible. Perhaps this is also where I can most clearly feel the difference between then and now. The experience has given me greater peace in simplicity, but it has certainly not removed the desire to experiment.
20 years – and I'm still curious
When I look back on the last 20 years, I am first and foremost grateful. Grateful for all of you who have chosen my ceramics for your homes. For those of you who drink your morning coffee from a WAUW cup, serve salad on a large platter or have a Crystal vase standing somewhere where it is seen and admired every day. It is a very special joy that something I have created with my hands, put a lot of effort into, has become a part of other people's everyday lives and that you are happy about. Thank you.
And although 20 years is a long time, I feel far from finished. There are still glazes I want to explore. Shapes I want to try. And ideas that have not yet become ceramics.
In recent years I have also taken a number of courses to develop and improve my skills in my profession. It is a great pleasure to meet other ceramists who have spent decades refining a special technique that they then pass on. It gives me new inspiration and new skills.
So I'm looking forward to the next 20 years. And I wonder if there will be a few new favorites along the way. 💛
Anniversary greetings
Sweetie
20% discount until September 20, 2026
To celebrate the anniversary, I'm giving a 20% discount on the webshop and in the store. This applies to all products except gift cards. The discount cannot be combined with other discounts. Use the discount code WAUW20 at checkout here on the webshop.
